Case for a tablet shaped device

ABSTRACT

A case for a tablet-shaped device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/117,149, filed Aug. 30, 2018, which claims priority toAustralian Patent Application No. 2018901752, filed on May 18, 2018, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein generally relates to a case for a tablet shapeddevice.

BACKGROUND

Cases for tablet shaped devices, examples of which include the APPLEIPAD, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, LENOVO TAB, smartphones like the APPLE IPHONE,and some personal digital assistants, are commercially available.

Some tablet shaped devices are configured to be used with a stylus. Inthe context of the present application, the term stylus encompasses ahand-held tool used by a user to interact with a touch sensitive area(for example a touch sensitive screen) of a tablet shaped device. Astylus may, but not necessarily, comprise an elongated shaft havingopposite ends and a touch sensitive area interaction tip at at least oneof the opposite ends.

Commercially available cases for tablet shaped devices may not meet someof the needs of consumer needs, including but not limited to the need toconveniently store a stylus.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a case for a tablet shaped device. The casecomprises a body comprising a face having a tablet shaped devicereceiving area. The case comprises a stylus holder at a margin of theface. The stylus holder defines an elongate cavity for receiving eitherof a first stylus for the tablet shaped device and a second stylus forthe tablet shaped device. The second stylus for the tablet shaped devicehas a different configuration than the first stylus.

In an embodiment, the stylus holder comprises at least one obstructingelement arranged to obstruct removal of at least one of the first stylusfor the tablet shaped device and the second stylus for the tablet shapeddevice from the elongate cavity when so received thereby. The at leastone obstructing element may be attached to an elongate cavity wall thatis outwardly bendable and resilient wherein the at least one obstructingelement attached thereto is outwardly movable for removal of either ofthe first stylus for the tablet shaped device and the second stylus forthe tablet shaped device from the elongate cavity. An optionaldiscontinuity in the elongate cavity wall may provide finger access toeither of the first stylus for the tablet shaped device and the secondstylus for the tablet shaped device when so received.

In an embodiment, the stylus holder comprises a stylus tip receiver forreceiving a tip of either of the first stylus and the second stylus. Thestylus tip receiver may comprise a web defining a space for receivingthe tip therein. The stylus tip receiver may define a passageway havingan outwardly orientated opening and which opens into the space foringress and egress of the tip into the space.

In an embodiment, the stylus tip receiver may comprise at least oneresilient lip that at least partially closes the outwardly orientatedopening whereby the at least one resilient lip hinders removal of thetip when so received. The outwardly orientated opening may be narrowerthan a width of the tip. The web may span the elongate cavity.

In an embodiment the stylus holder comprises a stylus cap receiver forreceiving a cap of the second stylus. The stylus cap receiver maycomprise a web defining a cradle configured to capture the stylus cap.The web may comprise at least one resilient lip that at least partiallycloses an outwardly orientated cradle opening whereby the at least oneresilient lip hinders removal of the stylus cap when so received.

An embodiment comprises a back wall. The web may tapper into the backwall.

Disclosed herein is a case for a tablet shaped device. The case maycomprise a body comprising a face having a tablet receiving area. Thecase may comprise a stylus holder at a margin of the face for holding astylus for the tablet shaped device, the stylus holder defining anelongate cavity for receiving a stylus. The case may comprise a stylustip receiver for receiving a tip of the stylus.

Any of the various features of each of the above disclosures, and of thevarious features of the embodiments described below, can be combined assuitable and desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with referenceto the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a case for a tabletshaped device and a stylus.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a stylus tip receiver of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of a stylus cap receiver of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a picture of a portion of the case of FIG. 1 in which atablet shaped device and a first stylus are received thereby.

FIG. 5 shows a picture of a portion of the case of FIG. 1 in which thetablet shaped device and a second stylus are received thereby.

FIG. 6 shows a picture of a portion of the case of FIG. 1 in which thetablet shaped device and a cap of the second stylus are receivedthereby.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 6 show various views of an embodiment of a case(indicated by numeral 10) for a tablet shaped device 12. The case 10comprises a body 14 comprising a front face 16 having a tablet shapeddevice receiving area 18. The case 10 has a stylus holder 20 at a margin22 of the face 16. The stylus holder 20 defines an elongate cavity 24.The stylus holder 20 can receive within the elongate cavity 24 a firststylus 26 for the tablet shaped device 12, as shown in FIG. 4. Thestylus holder 20 can receive a second stylus 28 for the tablet shapeddevice 12, as shown in FIG. 5. The first stylus 26 has a differentconfiguration than the second stylus 28.

The case 10 is configured for removable capture of either of the firststylus 26 and the second stylus 28 within the elongate cavity 24, and indoing so may accommodate the different configurations of the firststylus 26 and the second stylus 28.

The first stylus 26 has a two opposite ends 30, 31. One of the ends 31comprises a tip 29 in the form of a touch sensitive area interactiontip. The other end 30 comprises a circumferential sidewall protuberance34 in the form of a boss. Intermediate the two opposite ends 30, 31 isan elongated stylus shaft 32 that can be held in a user's hand. Parts ofthe second stylus 28 that are similar and/or identical in form and/orfunction to parts of the first stylus 26 are similarly numbered.

The stylus holder 20 comprises at least one obstructing element 36,40—in this embodiment two obstructing elements, however otherembodiments may have one or more than two obstructing elements—arrangedto obstruct removal of at least the first stylus 26 from the elongatecavity 24 when so received thereby. The obstructing elements 36, 40narrow the opening of the stylus holder 20. Each of the obstructingelements 36, 40 are in the form of a rib parallel to the elongatedcavity 24, however at least one of the obstructing elements may be inthe form of a semi-sphere or generally take any suitable form.Obstructing elements 38, 40 may assist in the capture of the stylus 26,28. That is, the first stylus 26 is captured within the elongate cavity24 by the obstructing elements 36, 40. The obstructing elements 36, 40are attached to elongate cavity wall 42 that is outwardly bendable andresilient. The obstructing elements 36, 40 attached to the elongatecavity wall 42 are outwardly movable for removal of the first stylus 26from the elongate cavity 20. A discontinuity 44 in the elongate cavitywall 42 provides finger access to either of the first stylus 26 and thesecond stylus 28 when so received.

The stylus holder 20 comprises a stylus tip receiver 46, best understoodwith reference to FIG. 2. The stylus tip receiver 46 is for receiving atip 29 of either of the first stylus 26 and the second stylus 28. Thestylus tip receiver 46 comprises a web 48 defining a space 50 forreceiving the tip 29 of either of the first stylus 26 and the secondstylus 28 therein. The stylus tip receiver 46 defines a passageway 52having an outwardly orientated opening 55 and which opens into the space50 for ingress and egress of the tip 29 into the space 50. The stylustip receiver 46 comprises at least one resilient lip 54 in thisembodiment one either side of the opening 55, that at least partiallycloses the outwardly orientated opening 55 whereby the at least oneresilient lip 54 hinders removal of the tip 29 when so received. Theoutwardly orientated opening 52 is narrower than a width of the tip ofeither of the first stylus 26 and the second stylus 28. The web 48 spansthe elongate cavity 20, between outer cavity wall 42 and inner cavitywall 43, however in other embodiments it may not, and may be interruptedso as to consist of two web components, for example.

The second stylus 28 has an electrical connector under cap 62 forcharging, which is revealed for use by removal of the cap 62. The stylusholder 20 comprises a stylus cap receiver 60, best understood withreference to FIGS. 3 and 6. The stylus cap receiver 60 is for receivinga cap 62 of the second stylus 28. The stylus cap receiver 60 comprisesanother web 64 defining a cradle configured to capture the stylus cap 62to the case 10. In this embodiment, the cradle holds the stylus cap 62when received thereby but it may not in other embodiments. The styluscap receiver 60 comprises at least one other resilient lip 66 that atleast partially closes an outwardly orientated cradle opening 68 wherebythe at least one resilient lip 66, in this embodiment two otherresilient lips, hinder removal of the stylus cap 62 when so received.The web 64 tappers into the back wall 70 of the case 10, which mayprovide the necessary space for the cap, and may be aestheticallypleasing.

The first stylus 26 is shorter than the second stylus 28. The stylus capreceiver 60 is disposed outside of a first stylus receiving area of theelongate cavity 24 that is between the stylus cap receiver 60 and thetip receiver 46. Consequently, the stylus cap receiver 60 does notinterfere with insertion of the first stylus 26 into the elongate cavity24.

Now that embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated thatsome embodiments may have some of the following advantages:

-   -   The first stylus, for example, may be a different brand stylus        than that of the second stylus. A consumer may wish to choose        which brand of stylus to purchase without selecting a special        case that only accommodates the chosen brand of stylus.        Embodiments may accommodate this.    -   A consumer may wish to stop using the first stylus with the        tablet shaped device in case 10 and commence using the second        stylus with the tablet shaped device in the case 10, for        example. Embodiments may accommodate this.    -   A cap may be captured while a stylus is being recharged, for        example, which may prevent loss, for example.

Variations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments describedwithout departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. The presentembodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. Reference to a feature disclosedherein does not mean that all embodiments must include the feature.

Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an admissionthat the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in anyjurisdiction.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, thatis to specify the presence of the stated features but not to precludethe presence or addition of further features in various embodiments ofthe invention.

1. A case for a tablet shaped device, the case comprising: a bodycomprising a face having a tablet shaped device receiving area, and astylus holder at a margin of the face, the stylus holder defining anelongate cavity for receiving either of a first stylus for the tabletshaped device and a second stylus for the tablet shaped device, thesecond stylus for the tablet shaped device having a differentconfiguration than the first stylus for the tablet shaped device.
 2. Acase defined by claim 1 wherein the stylus holder comprises at least oneobstructing element arranged to obstruct removal of at least one of thefirst stylus for the tablet shaped device and the second stylus for thetablet shaped device from the elongate cavity when so received thereby.3. A case defined by claim 2 wherein the at least one obstructingelement is attached to an elongate cavity wall that is outwardlybendable and resilient wherein the at least one obstructing elementattached thereto is outwardly movable for removal of either of the firststylus for the tablet shaped device and the second stylus for the tabletshaped device from the elongate cavity.
 4. A case defined by claim 3wherein a discontinuity in the elongate cavity wall provides fingeraccess to either of the first stylus and the second stylus when soreceived.
 5. A case defined by claim 1 wherein the stylus holdercomprises a stylus tip receiver for receiving a tip of either of thefirst stylus and the second stylus.
 6. A case defined by claim 5 whereinthe stylus tip receiver comprises a web defining a space for receivingthe tip therein.
 7. A case defined by claim 6 wherein the stylus tipreceiver defines a passageway having an outwardly orientated opening andwhich opens into the space for ingress and egress of the tip into thespace.
 8. A case defined by claim 7 wherein the stylus tip receivercomprises at least one resilient lip that at least partially closes theoutwardly orientated opening whereby the at least one resilient liphinders removal of the tip when so received.
 9. A case defined by claim8 wherein the outwardly orientated opening is narrower than a width ofthe tip.
 10. A case defined claim 6 wherein the web spans the elongatecavity.
 11. A case defined by claim 1 wherein the stylus holdercomprises a stylus cap receiver for receiving a cap of the secondstylus.
 12. A case defined by claim 11 wherein the stylus cap receivercomprises a web defining a cradle configured to capture the stylus cap.13. A case defined by claim 12 wherein the stylus cap receiver comprisesat least one resilient lip that at least partially closes an outwardlyorientated cradle opening wherein the at least one resilient lip hindersremoval of the stylus cap when so received.
 14. A case defined claim 13comprising a back wall wherein the web tappers into the back wall.
 15. Acase defined by claim 1 wherein the stylus holder comprises: a styluscap receiver for receiving a cap of the second stylus a stylus tipreceiver for receiving a tip of either of the first stylus and thesecond stylus; and at least one obstructing element intermediate thestylus cap receiver and the stylus tip receiver and comprising at leastone obstructing element arranged to obstruct the removal of either ofthe first stylus for the tablet shaped device and the second stylus forthe table shaped device from the elongate cavity when so receivedthereby.
 16. A case for a tablet shaped device, the case comprising: abody comprising a face having a tablet receiving area, and a stylusholder at a margin of the face for holding a stylus for the tabletshaped device, the stylus holder defining an elongate cavity forreceiving a stylus; and a stylus tip receiver for receiving a tip of thestylus.